Say It! Mean It! (But do it responsibly) 

It’s often said of bold leaders, “He says what he means, and means what he says.” Certainly, this is what a leader is simply supposed to do, isn’t it? It should not be some special characteristic worthy of mention, but the trait has become so rare that it is often said as a high compliment. Sometimes, however, it is said as a warning.  

Being honest (letting our words represent what we really believe and think) is a double-edged sword that can do harm as well as good. There are select times when a leader is doing a good thing by not exposing his or her true thoughts on an issue, however, this is different from having a leadership style that is rooted in avoidance or untruthfulness.  

Organizations and teams thrive when it is clear that the leader is a responsible and authentic communicator. There is an unspoken sense of calm and safety amongst the members when the leader knows not only how to communicate honestly, but also what to communicate and when. People do not want to cringe every time the leader takes the mic, fearing that a bombshell might drop at any moment. 

Saying what you truly mean can be done responsibly by following a few basic guidelines. 

• Evaluate your audience and segregate your communication according to the varied information needs. What you say to line staff will differ from what you say to the executive team or the members of your board. Giving your audience information that they either can’t address or won’t understand is counterproductive to the goal of successful communication.  
• Establish the purpose of what you say, before you say it. If what you really want to do is vent and release some frustration, then your subordinates are not the right people to listen to that. Saying what we mean involves being in touch with the emotions behind what we need to express so that we can take that communication to the right people.  
• Familiarize yourself with the context of the situation before speaking to it. The last thing a leader wants to do is speak honestly, but incorrectly because she did not know all the facts. Take the time to ask questions, review and assess the information, and then think about your response. Retracting a statement is never easy, and sometimes the damage done is hard to repair.  

An organization and its teams are healthier and more effective when the leaders can responsibly manage honest communication.  

Latasha Strachan is a speaker, facilitator, and coach. You can reach her at ceibalearning@gmail.com